Kentucky Rewind: Jimmie Johnson and those pesky restarts

Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in points and confusing restarts. Johnson and Kentucky race winner Matt Kenseth talk about Sunday's penultimate restart, which helped shape the outcome of the Quaker State 400.

GODWIN KELLYMOTORSPORTS EDITOR

Jimmie Johnson and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts just won't mix this season. Johnson has been involved in at least three late-race restart controversies. The latest was Sunday at Kentucky Speedway. He was lined up second next to race leader and eventual winner Matt Kenseth. Johnson, who led 182 of 267 laps, spun his No. 48 Chevy and settled for a ninth-place finish. Here are the driver comments about the penultimate restart.

Your thoughts on the next to last restart?

Johnson: “I don't know. We were kind of in an awkward situation in that restart there. And then we were like three and four-wide going in the corner, then something happened with the air and just kind of turned me around. Unfortunate, but at least we rallied back for a good finish. The No. 20 (Matt Kenseth) broke the pace car speed, which you aren't supposed to, but, they aren't calling guys on that so I need to start trying that in the future.”

Jimmie said after the race that he didn't think you kept pace car speed prior to that restart. What was your view of the restart, and knowing that he was caught for jumping a restart, are you able to kind of play games with a guy you know is kind of overly or more maybe cautious in that situation?

Matt Kenseth: “No, not at all. Until you just told me the pace car speed thing, somebody mentioned in Victory Lane that he was upset with the restart. I have no idea what happened or what happened to him or what I possibly could have done to upset him.

“When I got ready for the restart, we were on top and we were the leader, so it's anywhere in that box we can start the race and when the pace car peeled off, I felt like I went the same pace. I didn't check my tach when the pace car went off if we were exactly the same pace, but I think you can look through data and see I didn't slow down.

“Really at that point you try to watch the guy inside you and try to make sure he doesn't lay back and try to get a run at you, and tried to keep him right by my door; and when I got to the box, I went. And from there, I don't really know what happened.

“I certainly didn't feel like I did anything wrong from where I was, but you know, after dominating all day and you have a problem at the end, it's always -- I imagine it's frustrating. We've been there, too.”